Solidarity Beyond the Shop Floor: Local 1102 Partners with Toys for Tots to Spread Holiday Joy

RWDSU Local 1102 was proud to support Toys for Tots this holiday season with a donation that helped bring smiles to children and families across our community. Through the holiday drive, members had the opportunity to participate by dropping off toys at several RWDSU Local 1102 members’ shops, making it easy for working families to give back during a busy time of year.

Community involvement like this is a core part of what unions do. Beyond advocating for fair wages, strong benefits, and dignity on the job, unions play a vital role in strengthening the neighborhoods where members live and work. When union members come together to support local families, it reinforces the idea that solidarity doesn’t stop at the workplace—it extends throughout the community.

The Toys for Tots donation was coordinated by Toni Giannone of RWDSU Local 1102 alongside her father, Vincent Annunziata, Area Vice Commandant for the Long Island Area Marine Corps League. They were joined by Fred DeAbreu, Commandant of the Father Capodanno Detachment, and Lisa DiCristo, Toys for Tots Coordinator for the Detachment, who stopped by the RWDSU Local 1102 office to pick up the donated toys.

By partnering with trusted community organizations like the Marine Corps League and Toys for Tots, RWDSU Local 1102 helped ensure that the donations would reach children and families who needed them most. These partnerships highlight how unions help build stronger, more connected communities by bringing people together around shared values of care, responsibility, and mutual support.

“It means a lot to be able to give back, especially when it comes to supporting children and families in the community,” said Jack Caffey, President of RWDSU Local 1102. “This is what being part of a union family is all about.”

The success of the drive was a testament to the generosity and commitment of RWDSU Local 1102 members, who once again showed that unions are about more than contracts; they are about people. By stepping up during the holiday season, members helped spread joy, ease stress for families, and demonstrate the positive impact unions have beyond the workplace.

This was RWDSU Local 1102’s biggest Toys for Tots donation year by far, and it’s only the beginning. With the continued support of the community, Local 1102 plans to expand their reach and do even more in the years to come. RWDSU Local 1102 thanks everyone who contributed to making this donation possible and looks forward to continuing to support efforts that uplift and strengthen the community all year long through its charity work.